KVM Switch alternative

ballooba

In DIT the lecturers PCs have a piece of software installed called Magic Eye or something like that. These allow you to access PCs in the lab over the network and see what the other party was doing and control their PC over the network.

I bought a used PC in the FS section earlier today but would prefer not have a monitor on it. Could this be an alternative?

aidan_walsh

Indeed. Though that is remote access software. A KVM is hardware.

el Bastardo

Don't know what Magic Eye is, but I'll bet it's a virtual desktop. I access my 'spare', headless PC via virtual desktop (which comes with Windows XP Pro). It works, but an extra monitor or a KVM switch gives a bit more flexibility.

Cal

el Bastardo wrote:

Don't know what Magic Eye is, but I'll bet it's a virtual desktop. I access my 'spare', headless PC via virtual desktop (which comes with Windows XP Pro). It works, but an extra monitor or a KVM switch gives a bit more flexibility.

I think you mean 'Remote Desktop' which gives you remote control of another PC. 'Virtual Desktop' gives you 4 different desktops on one PC.

But yes Remote desktop within XP will do the job for you. It's good for lowish bandwith apps.

Cal.

ballooba

aidan_walsh wrote:

Indeed. Though that is remote access software. A KVM is hardware.

Yep. A software solution to a hardware problem. That's what I like about it. Keep my fellow software people in beer.

So would PCAnywhere work for this or is that only for accessing through dialup? Also, would I have to have a keyboard and mouse on the box or could it just work without KVM.

[edit] Windows XP is not practical as this box is mainly to hold a GSM Modem which won't work with XP.[/edit]

Cal

PC Anywhere will work over TCI/IP but the problem you may face is booting without a keyboard. Some modern BIOS's will let you 'ignore no keyboard on boot' errors. You could just leave a keyboard attached to the unit but don't use it.

Cal.

ballooba

That's what I had thought. The whole booting up thing. I'll have to look at the BIOS settings tomorrow.

OT but I'm starting to wonder where I'm going to put the bloody thing because it's kind of noisy. Having it in my room probably isn't practical. D'oh!!!

Capt'n Midnight

www.RealVNC.com FTW

Valentia

have a look at the free version of Logmein @ logmein.com. It's discussed on another thread (try a search)

It's amazingly simple and you can work on your computer from anywhere on any other computer through a browser. With the increase in upload speeds it is great. Brilliant yoke!!

Stephen

Don't bother paying for PCAnywhere - like Captn' midnight said, RealVNC is rather good, and free to boot. Remote desktop is only an option if the remote PC has XP Pro or some variant of windows server installed.

ballooba

Just had a look at this thread again. Will look at RealVNC. looking at PCAnywhere ATM.